Floriculture has emerged as a major area of agribusiness in recent years. India produces annually about 2.07 lakh metric tonnes of loose flowers and 50 crore number of cut flowers. The International trade on floriculture is estimated at about five billion dollars per annum, of which India's share is only 10 million dollars. Though India's presence in the world market has been negligible, it is all set to expand rapidly with increased production and addition of specific items like orchids. In India,nearly 94,000 hectares of land is under floriculture out of which nearly 98 percent of area is under open grown traditional flowers and only 2 percent of the area is under cut flowers in protected cultivation. The domestic trade is worth Rs. 350 crorescomprising of loose flowers (rose, chrysanthemum, marigold, jasmine, crossandra, china aster etc.) and cut flowers (rose, chrysanthemum and gerbera) grown in open field conditions. The present exports stand at Rs. 150 crores contributed mostly by greenhouse grown roses followed by carnations, orchids, gerberas and anthuriums. The exports are poised to grow to Rs. 500 crores by the end of Tenth Five Year Plan, whereas the domestic flower trade is poised to grow to Rs. 750 crores.
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